Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 38 Super or 45, or stick with 9mm?

I'm thinking about buying a quality 1911 pistol, probably a Dan Wesson PM-C or Valor, mainly for range use, but might carry it once in a while. I've only been a 9mm guy so far, and have a few. So, the question is, get a 38 Super or a 45, or maybe just get another 9mm? I know 9mm ammo is cheaper, but fun factor also comes into play, lol.

I have a Springfield Arms 1911A1 National Match in .45 and had a seperate .38 Super barrel and slide assembly fitted to the frame for pin shooting. The best of both worlds. .38 Super ammo is hard to find on most dealers' shelves and is seldom discounted, so it is prudent to plan ahead to buy on-line and buy twice the amount that you think that you'll need.

The 45 of course.

The 9mm is such a practical solution.

But for fun? I'm a 45 guy and happy to stay that way. About 40 years now.

A 1911 should be a .45. That said, 38 Super is a lot of fun too.

The 1911 is designed around the 45. If you want a 1911 for range use and occasional carry, the 45 is absolutely the way to go. Having 8 rounds of those big chunks lead on your hip is very comforting, very different feeling compared to 9mm.

I'll take the wishy-washy path and say: Get what you want. Just start shopping, and something will begin to resonate in the depths of your soul (if something hasn't already!) There will be "that one" that you keep coming back to look at, that you compare all the others to.

If you don't reload, I would say get another 9mm. Supply/demand is crazy right now, but historically, 9mm is always cheaper than .45 ACP. And, since you already own some 9mm guns, you likely have some ammo stashed away. Also, a 5" 9mm 1911 is a cupcake to shoot. I own 1911's in both 9mm and .45 ACP; the 9mm is fun for everyone to shoot.

The best arguments in favor of a .45 ACP are (1) You don't own one. Everybody should. 'nuff said. (2) You can craft a wide variety of ammo if you reload. You can spend the better part of a day punching holes with a 200gr SWC over 4.0gr of Clays. It's very therapeutic. (3) When you get the itch to "shoot a bigger gun" the .45 ACP with 230gr up to 255gr bullets is most satisfying. (4) Saint John Moses Browning made it to be chambered in .45, and you can't improve on perfection (see reason #1, supra).

Unfortunately, I can't really endorse the .38 Super. I know others will flame me for such blasphemy, but my buddy owned two 1911's in .38 Super. I shot them both a fair amount. They don't really feel significantly different than a full 9mm load when you're shooting. Of course, if you want "cool factor," people will slobber all over themselves, complimenting you and your .38 Super. But, I'd only recommend it if you own some sort of a progressive press. Given the low recoil of the .38 Super, you'll shoot as much ammo as you would a 9mm. Single-staging handgun ammo is brutal. Paying retail for .38 Super ammo (if you can find it) is more brutal. But, like I said, do it only for the cool factor, not the shooting factor.

Good luck in your decision! Be sure to post pics of the new acquisition--because when somebody gets a new gun, it's like we ALL get a new gun!

Carry on!

45 ACP. Be Well, RZ.

“Good luck in your decision! Be sure to post pics of the new acquisition--because when somebody gets a new gun, it's like we ALL get a new gun!”

Great line, Waders!

Get a 1911 in 45 ACP.

I've had several .45 ACP 1911's , - liked them all. Also had a .460/ Rowlamd that was good. At the moment I have one .45, two 10mm's. The 10mm's are good, also. Zero desire for a 9mm 1911.

Mike Holmes

I just sold a DW guardian in 38 super. It’ was a super nice gun. Pun intended. But I never did warm up to it.

I say stick with the 45.....

1911, 45 ACP or 38 Super all day everyday.

9mm is just as effective with equivalent bullets.

I say get all three, it is the most logical route to go, after all I have 3 and they are all 45acp.

Your first 1911 should always be a .45 ACP.

I would not consider 9x19 in 1911 pistol unless in terms of size and weight one was especially designed to handle this cartridge. I think Wilson Combat offers this type of gun. There is something called an EMP, but I'm not sure who makes it and whether it's true 9x19 or compact .45ACP with thick fat 9x19 barrel where .45 barrel would normally go. There are some Spanish offerings on used gun market as well.

Right. Make your second or third 1911 a 9MM if you really need a puny cartridge.

45 super.

I have a Springfield SS Loaded in 9mm, and I love shooting that gun very accurate and reasonable to shoot!

I vote for.45 ACP unless you’re getting nickel with Mexican Eagle stocks, then .38 Super.

Great responses, and definitely a tough choice.
But I've decided to go with 38 Super to start, and then keep my eye out for a nice commander 45 if it turns out I like 1911s, which I'm pretty sure I will 😉

I'm up to 56 of the damn things Mike. (I think). Most are .45's. A few are .38 Supers. One is 10mm and two have kits fitted for the .460 Rowland and one more came to me as a .460 Rowland built.

"Saint John Moses Browning" ...... I like that. I'm going to use that Waders, if that's okay?

You say you already have some 9's. Do you have a Browning Hi Power? Now that's a 9.

Don't ever fall for the .45 Super Bullcrap.

If you don't hand load, start as soon as you can.

Buy only good magazines.


That's enough for now. Good luck!




Blacktails, your on the right track. Keep going.

I have 1911's in all 3, 9mm,38 Super and 45.........Love all 3

something to consider with the 38 Super that has not been mentioned yet is that none of mine shoot all that well with factory ammo.
most factory ammo uses .355" bullets like the 9mm's. mine shoot much better using .356" or even .357" bullets, hope you hand load or know somebody that does.
Properly loaded it is my favorite of the 3

That's how I was until I bought one, now I shoot it much more often than my 45's
38 Super is my Fav though

THIS

1911 and 45 just goes go together so nicely.

Almost like they were made for each other.

Well my famous line is "The most interesting 1911's are all stamped with Super .38 Automatic"...And I stand by that. But the .45 ACP is just a wonderful cartridge in the 1911. So regardless of which you choose, I don't see how you're going to come out anything but a winner.

Something I will say is a plus for .38 Super. During ammo shortages, you tend to find .38 Super from time to time since it's a much less common cartridge.

Not to mention you're much better off shooting people in Mexico with a Super. If you use a .45 you could get in trouble.

45's are fun, but make mine a 38 Super. A real blast to shoot.

And if it's a single stack, that straight case feeds better too (compared to the tapered 9mm).

Colt Gov't in .45. But it's all good.
Bob

get the .45 first, since that's what the 1911 was first designed around. Eventually you will own several of each!

the .38 super is a classic, but due to economies of scale the ammo is twice as expensive as the very similar 9mm, (but my LGS had some in stock last time I stopped by, unlike 9)

After reading Bill Wilson's book "Gun Guy" and binge watching Wilson Combat videos (they like 9mm), and CMP allowing 9mm for IEC matches, I'm slowly and reluctantly warming up to the (shudder) thought (gulp) of a 1911 in 9mm (uggghhhh I said it....) (actually I didn't say it, I typed it)

a lightweight commander in 9mm maybe for carry, NM gold cup for Bullseye/EIC/LEG matches in 9mm.... maybe... I'm not there yet....

Poole

Blacktails: Go with the tried and true and very versatile 40 S&W!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Don't know what tapered 9mm you are referring to ??????? but the 9mm's in my 1911's are straight and feed just fine.........if it is a real 1911 they all have single stack

9mms ARE tapered, though you have to look closely, but it's there. I promise.

I like 9mms, but in a 1911, it's gotta be .45 or .38 Super or 10mm. I think the extra length of the Super case makes it more reliable in a 1911 sized frame. Yes, I know current production 9mm 1911s are reliable, but I think the Super is better for the size of the frame.

I did not get my point across very well, technically speaking the 9mm does have a bit of taper but so does a 45ACP and they feed without issues in most 1911's. most of the feeding issues come from the straight case 38 Super because of the semi-rim design. Starline makes rimless brass for those with hi capacity mags to solve the problem.
As far as reliability I have had no issues with any of my 1911's
You mention a 10mm that is one I don't have, really been thinking about one in a Long Slide !!!!!!!!

Ended up with a ANIB 9mm Dan Wesson Specialist Commander in SS finish as my first 1911. Mint and only 50 rounds through it, has a killer trigger. and the price was too good to pass up, even the gun shop doing the transfer thought so. Now I just have to wait another 2 weeks before it gets released to me. Still plan on getting a 38 Super or a 45 to add to it when the right deal comes along. Lol, already have some feelers out.

Great choice! Post a pic when you clear the background check!

I'm in Centralia if you want to get together and shoot it. Our local range is only 50 ft, but we have 24/7 indoor, unsupervised shooting. I'd be happy to host you as my guest.

Great choice! I've had good luck with Wilson Combat ETM 9mm magazines; if you have any magazine related problems, try a Wilson mag and that should fix them. I had two 9mm Kimbers that went from problematic to perfect after swapping the factory Kimber mags out for Wilson mags. Expensive, but worth it.

My 38 Super is the same way, .355 bullets not so much .356 bullets great, 357 bullets Super accurate.

Mine has a Barstow barrel which I highly recommend. Another thing I have switched over to Starline Super Comp Cases.

Mine is a Combat Commander Nickle Plated. Oh well I bought it used.

Since recently buying a 9mm DW Specialist Commander (awesome gun, btw) as my first 1911, I discovered the "I want a .45" itch was still there. So, after winning an auction on GB, I have a NIB .45 DW Valkyrie Commander heading my way. Think I'm good for a while now, lol. I'll try and post pics once I have it.

Ha! Like a boss!

It's rarely wrong when asked "this or that" to say BOTH!

You’re 2/3 of the way there. My thought when reading your first post was that you need one of each.